Improvement in railway car-baskets



MORTON TOWER.

Improvement in Railway Car Baskets.

Patented Nov-14,1871.

in: {as-505N53- momm/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORTON TOWER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEN IENT IN RAILWAY CAR-BASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,024, dated November 14, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I MORTON TOWER, of Boston, in the county of ufi'olk and Com monwealth of Massachusetts, have made an invention of a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Baskets; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, due reference being had to the accompanying drawing making apart of this specification, andin which- Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical section of a car-basket embodying my invention.

This invention refers to car-baskets so called, or the ornamental cages or receptacles now universally adopted in railway carriages for containing the parcels of passengers; and which consist of two or more baskets applied to the wall of the car, and connected by intermediate rods, a covering of wire being, in many instances, employed to prevent escape of small articles.

Heretofore the wire covering of these baskets has been united to the connecting rods by being carried around the bar and fastened thereto. This method leaves the basket in a rough and seemingly unfinished condition.

To improve the appearance of the basket a cylinder or covering of metal has been usually formed around the rod at each end of the basket, leaving a small space open when the wires enter in their way around the main support or rod.

The objection to this last method is that the spaces left between the edges of the cylinder spread apart, and though it serves for a time to improve its appearance does not add to its strength.

The object of my invention is to strengthen the basket to a'great degree and at the same time cause it to present a pleasing appearance to the eye of the beholder.

To this end, and in pursuance of the purpose of my invention, I cast or form around the two exterior connecting rods or supports a square bar or support entire in itself, which is securely fastened at its opposite ends to the sides of the basket, as shown in the drawing and furthermore I secure the wire forming the body of the basket to this outer cylinder by passing it through its under side, thus adding by the additional supportdouble strength, and causing the basket to present a neat and finished appearance.

In the drawing accompanying this specification, 0 C are the upper and lower or exterior rods of the basket. d d are tubes of rectangular or other suitable form, in crosssection, formed or mounted on the rods and held between the end brackets of the basket. B are the basket'wires, which, at the top and bottom, are attached to the under side of the pieces d by being inserted through holes formed therein and then looped or twisted; or, as shown in the drawing, hooks may be inserted in the holes in the tubes d and the wires may be caught on these hooks. The tubes may be made very ornamental; they aiford a better hold for the wires,and give additional strength, durability, and stiffnesss to the basket.

The advantages of my improvement are so evident that further explanation is not considered necessary.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- Applying a hollow tube or outer cylinder to the two exterior rods or supports of a car-basket and connecting or fasteningthe wires thereto, substantially in manner and for the purpose set forth.

Witnesses:

Enw. GRIFFITH, H. SAUNDERS.

MORTON TOWER. 

